Harm reduction: Moroccan scientists push for global generalization as solution for major healthcare problems

A group of scientists is calling for governments to shift their approach to healthcare, and “take advantage of all harm reduction has to offer.” They say the strategy can be extended to the climate crisis, criminal justice, and managing drug consumption.

The Washington Times organized a panel discussion for the 26 writers and contributors to the “Harm Reduction Manifesto” this Wednesday, January 26, which Hespress EN attended.

The publication was designed under the direction of Moroccan writer and journalist Abdelhak Najib, Dr. Imane Kendili, and Professor Jallal Toufiq, which will be released on January 26 in Washington, the USA.

The discussion included experts from climate restoration, public health, law enforcement, and abuse prevention.

Harm reduction is not a new concept, as it initially emerged back in the 70s as an effort to limit sexually transmitted diseases(STDs) and infections due to injectable drug use.

Dr. Kendili says that “since then, harm reduction has become a more wholesome concept in health care,” further proven by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Crucial to governments from the global south who don’t always dispose of large budgets for public healthcare, Kendili argues that “by involving all individuals in a system of prevention and harm reduction, and generalizing the concept of patient citizens, a weight will be alleviated off of governments’ shoulders, and will allow for a better management of public healthcare.”

The doctor continued that “the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the power of harm reduction to the world,” adding that “preventative measures mandated across the globe such as masks, vaccination, curfews, quarantine and social distancing have helped countries overcome the biggest threats of the pandemic.”

The aforementioned COVID-19 preventative measures “are harm reduction measures,” says Kendili, which have significantly reduced both the risk of transmission and the risk of aggravated symptoms.

According to the Moroccan doctor, “the logistics of healthcare are eased if people are practicing harm reduction.”

Harm reduction is particularly relevant for countries that do not have big budgets for healthcare. Harm reduction becomes “more efficient than the treatment of chronic ailments and prohibition,” as the strategy takes human nature into account.

The doctor says that “human beings are not perfect, prohibition, criminalization does not work, but harm reduction does, as it limits the risks associated with unhealthy behavior.”

People will “do drugs, consume white sugar, smoke tobacco, and have unprotected sex despite all the health risks involved,” which renders all criminalization efforts useless, to both society and the health sector.

But the experts who contributed to the manifesto are saying that harm reduction is not just about health, as it touches on environmental issues, criminality, and the economy.

Through harm reduction, policymakers can decriminalize drugs or offer a “safe supply” to addicts, so that they don’t die from illicit drugs nor get sick from sharing syringes and paraphernalia, taxpayers don’t bear the costs of incarceration, and police and bystanders aren’t placed at risk in drug raids.

“While the intentions of governments both here and abroad may be noble in addressing drug use and other risky behaviors, the first point of action should be a realization that silver bullet solutions do not exist,” said Mazen Saleh, policy director for Integrated Harm Reduction at the R Street Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

Harm reduction policies tend to be politically polarizing, as officials “don’t want to be labeled soft on crime,” or seem to be condoning drug use.

“All-or-nothing tactics and bans on risky behaviors aren’t working, so it is time to focus on holistic approaches that chip away at risks and save lives,” the panelists said.

“We are never going to eliminate substance use disorder. We’re never going to eliminate crime. Our role as policymakers is to implement policies that mitigate the harms to not just individuals, but all our communities,” said retired California police Lt. Diane Goldstein, executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership.

People employ harm reduction tactics every day, such as wearing a seat belt or calling a cab if they’ve had a few drinks and shouldn’t drive.

In the policy sphere, efforts to reduce harm usually focus on reducing risks from drug use or sex.

Dr. Imane Kendili said that policymakers should “stop fighting” and realize that people will always engage in risky behaviors, to eventually transition to “a better management” of the biggest bottlenecks of healthcare, criminal justice, and the climate crisis.

“Local companies can make decisions to avoid harming the planet through their procurement policies and investments. Governments have to apply the urgent actions that are laid out in the Paris Climate accords and ensure a reversal of the most consequential impacts both at national and local levels. Individuals, of course, have a role to make choices that benefit the planet,” said Kye Young, vice president of partnerships and development at the Foundation for Climate Restoration.

“We’re never going to eliminate fossil fuels or carbon emissions in the atmosphere,” Young said. “There are ways to mitigate. There are ways to find other, alternative resources and energy resources and power that are safe.”